Finnish Air Force de Havilland Vampire Mk.55 VT-6 Airfix 1/72

Size comparison of the old Finnish Air Force jets: clockwise from top left: MiG-21UM, de Havilland Vampire Mk.55, MiG-15UTI, Folland Gnat F.1

Airfix de Havilland Vampire T.11 1/72 A02058

Bought this new-tool Airfix kit from the Finnish Aviation Museum while taking reference photos of the original Finnish Air Force de Havilland Vampire Trainer Mk.55 (VT-9) on display there. Another nice modern Airfix kit that builds well and looks the part. 

Painted with Revell enamels, final clearcoat semi-gloss Johnson/Future floor wax. Aftermarket FAF decals from Harraste Shop (Tampere, Finland).

This model represents the Finnish Air Force Vampire Trainer VT-6 of the Hämeen Lennosto at summer in 1958. There is the original (badly damaged) cockpit fuselage part of the VT-6 on display at the Päijänne-Tavastia Aviation Museum, Finland.

Airfix Pearl Harbor Trio III: Kate

The new Airfix Nakajima B5N2 'Kate' is a very nice kit and a delight to build. Out-of-the-box with some little exceptions like tailcode letter "A" decal from a Hasegawa 1:200 DC-9-40 kit and steel wire pitot tube. 

My model represents the first wave Akagi torpedo bomber flown by a hikotaicho (overall torpedo plane leader) Lt. Cmdr. Shigeharu Murata. 

#16 - Pearl Harbor raid - Akagi's torpedo bombers

Pearl Harbor Kates

Nice engine, unfortunately nearly invisible in a finished model.

Only the wing roots needed some putty.

Hai-ryokushoku base ready for freehand airbrushing.

 Revell Matt 39 Dark Green topcoat.

Cockpit ready for glazing.

Airfix #04058 1:72 Nakajima B5N2 'Kate' box top.

Airfix Pearl Harbor Trio II: New tool 'Zeke'

If the Tamiya 1/72 Zero was a really, really nice kit this Airfix new tool Zero is practically as fine but considerably cheaper. Especially when built with a closed canopy both kits look like they should. Of course Tamiya has the open cockpit option and details are little crisper and a bit more delicate, not to mention it's definitely easier to build, but all these features come with a price tag. 

Out-of-the-box except replaced pitot tube and tail number decal - because I wanted a Pearl Harbor one the AI-111 was obviously the easiest to make with cut-and-paste - so this model represents the Akagi fighter piloted by F1c Shinpei Sano of the second wave attack.  

Paint shades (same as my PH 'Val') and other decisions were made with the help of these websites:

#25 - PEARL HARBOR raid - Akagi's fighters

OUT OF AMEIRO CLOUD INTO HAI-RYOKUSHOKU SKY 

 Aviation of Japan: The Zero Colour Conundrum 1

Aviation of Japan: The Zero Colour Conundrum 4

Modeling Madness: Early A6M Colors

J-aircraft.com: Pearl Harbor

J-aircraft.com: Mitsubishi A6M "Zero" Pt 4

Still, I'm afraid my model is just a best guess about many details...

Fuselage nose top panel is a good idea that works well.

Basic painting done

Airfix GR3 Harrier as a donor sheet for AI-111

After some touch-up

Ready for decaling with Johnson Pledge floor wax (The Finnish version!)

Airfix Pearl Harbor Trio I: 'Val'

I saw three Japanese plane profiles in a high school history textbook and thought it would be nice a nice project for old and new Airfix 1/72 kits. So here's my interpretation of Aichi D3A1 Model 99 'Val' dive bomber in Akagi Pearl Harbor hikotaicho markings, the crew were PO1c Kiyoto Furuta (pilot) and Lt. Takehiko Chihaya (gunner/radioman). Mostly out-of-the-box except the lower two tail red stripes picked from my decal stash and original AI-201 black decal hand painted red. Nice kit otherwise with the usual exceptions of canopy and some parts fit. Yet it was cheap and fun even for a second-hand kit (just a couple of £'s GBP) and the Aichi D3A1 shapes are certainly there.

Airfix 1980 reissue #902014 Aichi D3A1 'Val'

Original decal sheet except the tail number for 'AI-201' hand painted red

Dive brakes, note ejector pin markings and some flash

1960's idea of a scale model cockpit interior

Airfix copyright 1965 inside the wing

I was tempted to use this painting diagram, but decided to go for a bit more realistic version of the basic out-of-the-box build

Minimum # of parts, but just enough I think

Is this supposed to be a 96 model bomb? Going to use it anyway!

 

Never been afraid with the filler tube, never will...

Fortunately the upper sides match better!

Left stabilizer painted with Revell 380 with some gloss 04 white added, right stabilizer with a little further matt 39 mix, trying to simulate this actual aileron fabric sample